Taxi Driver Online

Alan Campbell, co-owner of Central Cabs – which operates more than 20 black cabs in Southport – says a rise in fares would damage business
Oct 17 2008 by John Siddle, Southport Visiter


“MILITANT” hackney cab drivers could cripple the local taxi trade if their requests for increased fares are approved this morning, a taxi owner has warned.

Alan Campbell, co-owner of Central Cabs – which operates more than 20 black cabs in Southport – insists proposed rises of 10p per mile would “spell disaster” as credit crunch-hit customers are priced out of journeys.

North Sefton Hackney Carriage Association asked Sefton Council in July to increase charges to cover drivers’ increased fuel costs over the past 18 months.

Councillors were set to approve the bid until Mr Campbell pointed out that fuel prices were now falling.

He said: “Fuel prices are now tumbling and, if we are to believe the Government, set to decrease to 75p a litre by Christmas, so the grounds upon which the application was made are flawed.

“The reason why the trade is suffering at present is not because the fares are wrong, it is because the volume of users has decreased due to people not being able to use taxis in the present economic climate.

“We can only imagine the requests are from the usual militant type of drivers who are looking to sting the public as much as they can without the slightest concern for the trade as a whole.”

Mr Campbell says trade at Central Cabs is down by 20% as a direct result of the credit crunch with 12 drivers leaving the firm in three months.

He warned: “If people cannot afford the current fares now then they certainly will not be able to pay the increased fares after the meeting.

“To further increase the fares would spell disaster for our trade.”

Central Cabs will refuse to raise tariffs regardless of whether councillors give the green light.

North Sefton Hackney Carriage Association secretary Tony Crabtree refused to comment on the planned in creases, but one licensed Hackney driver revealed the costs of running a cab were higher than ever.

He said: “We have absorbed the cost of fuel for two years, from when it was 80p a litre, without increasing our tariffs. In the meantime, everything has gone up. I don’t think anyone would begrudge us putting 10p on our tariff.

“Even with the increases hackneys in Sefton are still cheaper than all the surrounding boroughs and are right at the bottom of the table across the country.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Are sefton cab drivers to wait indefinately while Mr Campbell decides when they should have a fare increase? This guy is welcome to his opinion but thats all he's welcome to. Owning 20 cabs and probably driving none of them doesn't give him any special priviliges. If as a radio circuit operator he decides to ask his drivers to discount their fares then thats another matter but no doubt this guy is aware that the meter must go on for every private hire journey unless there are special circumstances relating to any unconventional hire within or outside the prescribed distance?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Perhaps he could help his hard pressed drivers by reducing their rent?

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